Barking is one of many forms of vocal communication for dogs. People are often pleased that their dog barks, because it alerts them to the approach of people to their home or it tells them there’s something that the dog wants or needs. However, sometimes a dog’s barking can be excessive. Because barking serves a variety of functions, you must identify its cause and your dog’s motivation for barking before you can treat a barking problem

Fear, stress and anxiety are at the root of many problem behaviours in cats and dogs — and in some cases, human behaviour is the direct cause of a pet’s actions. Many pet owners fail to understand this, though, and instead blame the dog or cat for the “bad” behaviour.
In my experience, pet owners make three common mistakes that lead to problem behaviours in their dogs and cats. Here’s what they are, and how to fix them.